January 2008
A1 Team Malaysia conducted its first 'outreach programme' on the 20th of December 2007, where the team helped to refurbish the SJK(T) Keruh school in the north of Perak at a town called Pengkalan Hulu with team mechanics deploying their painting skills, with teachers and parents joining in the refurbishment activity.
The team then returned to Pengkalan Hulu on the 5th & 6th of January, together with drivers Alex Yoong and Aaron Lim, for the second part of the programme, to meet and greet the 160 students of the school and more than 1000 visitors from the town and other nearby schools.
Each day began with a karting demonstration by Alex and Aaron, showing how to do a few fast corners in the nearby car park, followed by the principal of the school testing his own skills behind the wheel. In addition to the headmaster one of the local chief policemen also had a go much to the delight of the crowd.
The crowd then moved over to the school where they were able to have an up close view of the A1 Team Malaysia race car. A1 Team Malaysia souvenirs were given out to visitors with many autographs signed and pictures taken with the drivers and team members.
The team was also pleased to present a donation from one of their approved supplier partners, Etika Dairies, who donated 24 cases of condensed milk to the school.
"Pengkalan Hulu is very far from the main towns of Malaysia," said school principal Mr. Veeramuthu. "This outreach initiative by A1 Team Malaysia has been fantastic for the school and for Pengkalan Hulu. We have really enjoyed this event. Perhaps in the future one of my students can be like Alex or Aaron."
Following this, on 31 March 2008, the team returned for the final phase of their support to the school. To assist in this trip, long-term partner, Mayflower Car Rentals donated the use of one of their MPVs to the team. Five brand new desktop computers were donated in aims to help further enhance the excellent educational programme that the school delivers to the local population. The availability of the latest technology will be a gateway to the wider world for the pupils and locals.
A1 Team Malaysia's Commercial Director, Owen Leed concludes after this first Outreach initiative, "We're overwhelmed with the welcome we received on our return to Pengkalan Hulu and the joy on the faces of the students and teachers when they saw the computers. We know that they will be very valuable items of equipment that will be put to good use and contribute to the teaching facilities that the school offers. We're pleased to be able to expand the work of A1 Team Malaysia into outlying communities and, in a small way, to make a difference to the lives of the young people. It has been a very rewarding programme. Everyone has been so appreciative of our efforts that it makes it very worthwhile. Outreach is devoted to making small differences to small communities within Malaysia and this first activity has been an unqualified success. We hope that we will be able to instigate further programmes in other areas of the country in the coming year. We are highly appreciative of the management team at our long term partner, Mayflower Car Rental, who donated the use of one of their MPV's to make this trip and in future we would welcome the participation of all of our partners in this valuable community based programme."
See below for video and pictures of the event.
